Third Sunday in Advent: Gospel, Matthew 11:2-15            

Matthew 11:2-15

John the Baptist has questions about Jesus. It’s a bit challenging to think of the baptizer of Jesus wondering. Hasn’t he been convinced by the events at the baptism of Jesus? But he sends his own disciples to ask about His true identity. Perhaps John was expecting much more from the Messiah than he was seeing. More flash, and spark, and railing against God’s enemies John had in mind. So the true deliverer of Israel was not what met the eye.

Then there’s part two. Jesus asks the crowd about John specifically calling them to identify what they had seen in the edgy prophet. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?” is the query from Jesus. He wanted to make sure THEY weren’t missing anything important about John the way John was temporarily missing the mark on Jesus. So Jesus clarifies to a laser point with the conclusion that no one born of woman is greater than John.

Jesus goes on to clarify that what John declared about Him was indeed true. And that John was indeed worthy of attention. But the new reality to which both pointed raised the least in the new Kingdom to a status unparalleled by anyone simply born to this life. Then Jesus adds a common summary common from His lips now and again, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (11:15).

Clarity of vision is more times than not, aided by taking a better and closer look. But occasionally more than sight is needed. What you and I need to see in regard to the Kingdom of Jesus is clarified most not by the eyes, but the ears.

Look and listen. Then listen some more.